Blumberg, Chandra. Second Tide’s the Charm. Canary Street. Aug. 2024. 304p. ISBN 9781335476999. pap. $18.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Blumberg (“Taste of Love” series) offers a slow-burn rom-com about two Black marine biologists with a shared past, who meet again on a shark study and must navigate close quarters and still simmering feelings. Filled with beloved tropes, including reunion romance, forced proximity, and a cinnamon roll hero.

Carlyle, Christy. The Duke and Lady Scandal. Avon. (Princes of London, Bk. 1). Aug. 2024. 368p. ISBN 9780063347342. pap. $9.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Best-selling Carlyle begins a new Victorian series inspired by The Mummy and National Treasure. Alexandra Prince is left at home to run the family antique shop while her siblings go on adventures. When she overhears a plot to steal the crown jewels, she seeks the aid of Detective Inspector Benedict Drake. With a 100K-copy first printing.

Cho, Zen. The Friend Zone Experiment. Bramble. Aug. 2024. 352p. ISBN 9781250330390. pap. $18.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Hugo and British Fantasy Award winner Cho writes a contemporary romance set in London. Estranged from her family in Singapore, Renee Goh gets a surprise call (her father might set her up as the next CEO of the family’s conglomerate) and a surprise visit (she bumps into her first love on a night that will change everything). With a 75K-copy first printing.

DeLuca, Jen. Haunted Ever After. Berkley. Aug. 2024. 336p. ISBN 9780593641217. pap. $19. PARANORMAL ROMANCE

DeLuca turns to a paranormal rom-com after her “Well Met” series. Nick Royer, owner of the local coffee shop in the haunted town of Boneyard Key, loves the tourists that come with the ghost stories. When Cassie Rutherford moves to town—into her own haunted house—the two connect as they join forces to figure out her ghostly residents.

Desai, Sara. ’Til Heist Do Us Part. Berkley. Aug. 2024. 368p. ISBN 9780593641316. pap. $19. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Desai (To Have and To Heist) offers another rom-com caper starring Simi Chopra and team. It has been a year since they, with the help of Jack Danger, got the reward money for the diamond necklace job. Now a mafia boss wants the diamonds and the money, and it will take another score to solve the problem.

Hart, Livy. The Great Dating Fake-Off. Entangled: Amara. Aug. 2024. 352p. ISBN 9781649376510. pap. $17.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Hart (Planes, Trains, and All the Feels) offers a fun twist on the fake-date trope. Both Nora and Reid promise to help their friends by pretending to be their dates at a snazzy wedding. But it is the same wedding, and Reid has real, if unconfessed, feelings for Nora. But how to un-fake-date? With a 100K-copy first printing.

Kirwan, Noué. Frequent Fliers. Canary Street. Aug. 2024. 400p. ISBN 9781335427458. pap. $18.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Following her debut, Long Past Summer, Kirwan offers the story of Lanie Turner, serving as maid of honor and “best mate” at the wedding of her cousin and longtime crush. This requires her to go back and forth between NYC and London, during which she meets Dr. Ridley Aronsen. Their connection makes the continental commute easier and just might heal both their hearts.

McQuiston, Casey. The Pairing: Special 1st Edition. St. Martin’s Griffin. Aug. 2024. 432p. ISBN 9781250862747. pap. $20. LGBTQIA+ ROMANCE

Best-selling McQuiston (One Last Stop; Red, White & Royal Blue) offers a rom-com about two bisexual former lovers who go on the same European culinary tour. To prove they are (not) over each other, they propose a hookup game. Expect a special first edition with sprayed and decorated edges. With a 500K-copy first printing.

Meltzer, Jean. Magical Meet Cute. MIRA: Harlequin. Aug. 2024. 368p. ISBN 9780778334415. pap. $18.99. PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Faye creates a golem doll to be her perfect match, and then meets the man of her dreams the next day. Did she conjure the mysterious Greg, or is he a golem? Too bad Faye hit him with her bike and he has lost his memory. A follow-up to Meltzer’s The Matzah Ball.

Morgan, Sophie H. De-Witched. Harlequin Feature. (Toil and Trouble, Bk. 2). Aug. 2024. 336p. ISBN 9781335146649. pap. $18.99. PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Human Leah crashes a witch high-society masked ball where she anonymously meets warlock Gabriel Goodnight. Forced to live for months without his powers, Gabriel later walks into Leah’s bar. Prince Charming and Cinderella they are not, but they still might be made for each other. A follow-up to The Witch Is Back.

Nava, Danica. The Truth According to Ember. Berkley. Aug. 2024. 384p. ISBN 9780593642603. pap. $19. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

In Nava’s debut, Ember Lee Cardinal, a Chickasaw woman, is turned down for job after job, leading her to fill out an employment application claiming she is white. She is hired and falls for Danuwoa Colson, an Indigenous IT colleague. The two date secretly, against the rules, but the truth is going to cost them.

Forthcoming Series Titles

Beck, Hazel. Truly Madly Magically. Graydon. (Witchlore, Bk. 3). Aug. 2024. 352p. ISBN 9781525804731. pap. $18.99. PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Camp, Candace. A Scandal at Stonecliffe. Graydon. (Stonecliffe Novel, Bk. 3). Aug. 2024. 336p. ISBN 9781335513137. pap. $9.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Feehan, Christine. Betrayal Road. Berkley. (Torpedo Ink, Bk. 9). Aug. 2024. 464p. ISBN 9780593638781. pap. $9.99. PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Harper, Lana. Rise and Divine. Berkley. (The Witches of Thistle Grove, Bk. 5). Aug. 2024. 336p. ISBN 9780593637982. pap. $19. PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Hawley, Sarah. A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire. Berkley. (Glimmer Falls, Bk. 3). Aug. 2024. 448p. ISBN 9780593547960. pap. $19. PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Jackson, Brenda. The Cottage on Pelican Bay. Canary Street. (Catalina Cove, Bk. 7). Aug. 2024. 336p. ISBN 9781335474971. pap. $18.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Reilly, Grace. Wicked Serve. Avon. (Beyond the Play, Bk. 4). Aug. 2024. 448p. ISBN 9780063387140. pap. $17.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Ridley, Erica. Hot Earl Summer. Forever: Grand Central. (Wild Wynchesters, Bk. 5). Aug. 2024. 352p. ISBN 9781538726150. pap. $17.99. HISTORICAL ROMANCE

Robert, Katee. Dark Restraint. Sourcebooks Casablanca. (Dark Olympus, Bk. 7). Aug. 2024. 320p. ISBN 9781728262826. pap. $16.99. PARANORMAL ROMANCE

Rose, Karen. Buried Too Deep. Berkley. (New Orleans Mystery, Bk. 3). Aug. 2024. 528p. ISBN 9780593638583. $30. ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

Sharma, Nisha. Marriage & Masti. Avon. (If Shakespeare Were an Auntie, Bk. 3). Aug. 2024. 352p. ISBN 9780063001183. pap. $18.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE